Amputation Hazards Add Up to $128,550 in Fines for Cleaning Products Firm
"Eliminating safety barriers and failing to develop emergency plans because they are inconvenient or time-consuming is no excuse for endangering employees," said William Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office.
OSHA has cited Goodwin Ammonia Co. for 16 safety and health violations at its manufacturing plant in Lawrenceville, Ga. OSHA began its inspection of the plant in October 2010 as part of a site-specific targeting program focused on industries with high occupational injury and illness rates. Proposed penalties total $128,550.
A willful safety citation, with the maximum penalty of $70,000, was issued for exposing employees to amputation hazards from a lack of machine guarding on production machines.
Goodwin Ammonia was issued 11 serious citations, with penalties of $58,550, for exposing workers to fall, electrical, and confined space entry hazards; failing to provide an emergency response plan to potential chemical spills; and allowing employees to improperly use compressed air to clean equipment.
Four other-than-serious citations with no monetary penalties were issued for not installing directional signs in the warehouse, not conducting medical evaluation and training of employees who were voluntarily using full face and half mask respirators, not informing employees of confined space dangers, and not re-evaluating employees trained as forklift operators after three years.
"Eliminating safety barriers and failing to develop emergency plans because they are inconvenient or time-consuming is no excuse for endangering employees," said William Fulcher, director of OSHA's Atlanta-East Area Office. "Employees should not have to risk their safety or health for a paycheck."
Goodwin Ammonia manufactures sanitation and cleaning products at its Lawrenceville location and has corporate offices in Garden Grove, Calif.